MEET THE TEAM
GET TO KNOW THE PEOPLE BEHIND RODALE INSTITUTE FARM FUND
southern region research directorkristie wendelberger
Dr. Kristie Wendelberger is the Southern Region Research Director at Rodale Institute. Kristie oversees all of Rodale Institutes research in the Southern United States. She wrote the Rodale Institute Farm Fund a former USDA Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities project turned Advancing Markets for Producers program. While transitioning the Southern Piedmont Climate-Smart project over to the Rodale Institute Farm Fund, Kristie took what she learned from farmers across the south about their funding and regenerative and organic transitioning needs and turned it into the largest farmer grant opportunity ever run by Rodale Institute. As a conservation ecologist, Kristie knows that farmers play a large role in keeping our soils healthy, watersheds clean, and ecosystems thriving. Farmers care about the land and natural communities and, with a little financial support, will do what it takes to protect them.
Program managerLOGAN TWEARDY
Logan has been farming in central Virginia for the last 12 years, doing a little of everything from meat, to veggies, to on-farm workshops and events. In 2015, he and his wife started ShireFolk Farm, where they’ve produced Certified Naturally Grown vegetables and mushrooms and pasture-raised eggs and meats, including chicken, turkey, and lamb, as well as forest-raised pork. In 2024, he transitioned from full-time farming to working at the Rodale Institute, where he helps support farmers in the south to grow their businesses through regenerative agriculture.
MARKETS COORDINATORKIM BUTZ
Kim grew up immersed in organic agriculture, developing a lifelong passion for farming and sustainability. With twenty-six years of food service experience and hands-on management of diversified produce farms, she brings a unique perspective to agricultural support. Over the past eight years, she’s provided technical assistance to farms across the Carolinas, conducted workshops, and pursued continuing education to equip farmers with the knowledge and tools needed for resilient, safer, and more productive systems. Passionate about education, soil health, and capacity building, she is dedicated to fostering open, inclusive conversations that advance sustainable farming practices, balancing economic success with ecological stewardship.
Farm specialistde’anthony price
De’Anthony Price is a crop scientist specializing in regenerative and organic agriculture, farmer education, and science communication. As the AMP Farm Specialist, he supports program implementation and guides farmers through the grant process. Previously, he served as a Southeast Organic Consultant at Rodale Institute, providing technical assistance to certified and transitioning organic farmers, with a focus on organic agronomy and certification. De’Anthony is also a community farmer who grows organic produce for local communities. He holds a B.S. in Agricultural Communication from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, an M.S. in Plant and Soil Science from Alabama A&M University, and an Ed.S. in Agricultural Education from Murray State University.
Farm coordinatorBetsy trice
Betsy lives in central Virginia with her husband where they run a small diverse farm raising both livestock and crops. She holds a BS in Poultry Science from University of Arkansas and a certificate in Permaculture Design as well as Permaculture Teaching. Betsy has been farming or gardening in one form or another for over 20 years, and been teaching sustainable agriculture at her local community college for 15 years. Betsy is a farmer, teacher, homesteader, maker, and lifelong student.
staff accountantgigi copeland
Genevieve (Gigi) Copeland is Rodale Institute’s Staff Accountant. She is the person who pays you through RAMP!
Gigi is a graduate of the 2023 Rodale Institute RIFT program and was a 2024 RIFT Fellow. At her previous position at Phycare Surgery Center, Gigi was a two-time Materials Manager of the Year (2020 and 2021) and Savings Value ASC Materials Manager of the Year 2020 and 2021.
She has always dreamed of having a homestead and living in a stone farmhouse in the country like the place her grandparents had when she was very young. In 2017, Gigi was fortunate to find all that right here in Berks County, PA. For a few years she grew and sold produce and honey from our beehives, at an honor stand in front of her house. But it wasn’t until she started the Rodale Institute RIFT Program in early 2023, that the possibility of having a real farm business began to take shape. Now she dreams of “retiring” to Boo Cat farm and really getting her business off the ground in a few years. Until then, she’s happy to be part of the Rodale Institute Farm Fund and get to support other farmers on their journey.
marketing and communications project manager
maura beuttel
Maura is the creative force behind Rodale Institute Farm Fund’s marketing and communications efforts, bringing it’s work and mission to life through storytelling, content creation, and projects like this very website!
Based in Pennsylvania, just a short distance from Rodale Institute’s headquarters, Maura has been part of the team since 2023. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from Ithaca College.
What Maura loves most about working at Rodale Institute is knowing that the work she helps share is making a meaningful, positive impact. Outside of work, you can usually find her knitting up something new, tending to her garden when the season allows, or enjoying a cozy day at home with her dog.